mtl008 Chapter 1244 My master has never lacked these material possessions.
Chapter 1244 My master has never lacked these material possessions.
The hall was abuzz with discussion, and bids rose and fell from the second and third floors. In the short time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the bids had already broken through the 20,000 mark: "20,001 taels!"
There was a small change of one hundred taels; clearly, the bid came from the private room next to Shen Zheng's.
"Twenty-one thousand taels!" It wasn't hard to tell that the person in the private room to the right of Shen Zheng was already angry.
"Twenty-one thousand one hundred taels!" Before Chen Zhikuan could speak, Shen Zheng added another one hundred taels in the private room next door.
On stage, Yunniang beamed with joy: "Twenty-one thousand one hundred taels! Distinguished guests, is there anyone else who would like to raise the price?"
The people in the hall fell silent, trembling with fear.
"Twenty-one thousand two hundred taels!" The person in the third private room on the right changed their strategy and began to imitate the person in the private room next to Shen Zheng, increasing the price by one hundred taels at a time.
These additional hundred taels, though seemingly small, are the kind of scene the organizers love to see.
Yunniang's smile deepened.
The longer the bidding remains deadlocked, the higher the final price can be.
"Knock knock knock—" Someone knocked on the door of the private room next to Shen Zheng's.
Hua Duo immediately focused his mind, pricked up his ears, and repeated the story to Shen Zheng word by word.
"Young Master Lu, my master has sent me to inquire whether he has offended you."
"That's not true."
"Why is the price being increased by hundreds of taels at a time, young master?"
"Didn't the manager say that the price would be increased by at least one hundred taels?"
--"you......"
"Go back and tell your parents that they should be glad the rule is to add at least a hundred taels, otherwise I would have added one copper coin at a time, since my maternal grandfather's family did not have an easy time in business."
"...Young Master Lu, my master said that if you have something to say, please just say so. There's no need to make our two families a laughingstock in this way..."
"Alright, then I'll trouble you to ask Lord Lin when he'll release the goods that he's been holding from my maternal grandfather's family."
"Please wait a moment, young master."
That concludes the discussion.
Shen Zheng pondered the identities of the people in the two private rooms.
One of them, surnamed Lu, was a young master; his father was an official, and his maternal relatives were businessmen.
A man surnamed Lin, an official, had the authority to seize goods...
Almost instantly, Shen Zheng identified the latter as Lin Wanshan, the Salt and Iron Commissioner of Yuanzhou.
As for the former...
Shen Zheng summoned Chen Zhikuan and asked in a low voice, "Is the Prefect of Yuanzhou... surnamed Lu?"
Chen Zhikuan immediately nodded: "Yes, Lord Shen."
Shen Zheng understood.
The son of the prefect is considered a top-tier figure in this building; no wonder he dares to challenge the Salt and Iron Commissioner.
His actions were likely tacitly approved by the prefect.
After a moment's thought, Shen Zheng asked Chen Zhikuan, "What kind of business does Prefect Lu's father-in-law's family run?"
Chen Zhikuan's eyes flickered, and he instantly understood Shen Zheng's meaning: "Reporting to Lord Shen, the Nie family, the father-in-law of Prefect Lu, is a large merchant family engaged in the trade of goods, including silk, tea, and high-quality spices... I heard that a batch of spices belonging to the Nie family was seized by the Salt and Iron Bureau a couple of days ago, but..."
As he spoke, a hint of hesitation flashed in Chen Zhikuan's eyes.
"Just say it," Shen Zheng said.
“But I believe that the goods are more than just spices…” Chen Zhikuan’s voice grew lower and lower. “When the Salt and Iron Bureau inspects goods, even if ordinary spices are smuggled in, they are only subject to fines and confiscation; they are never detained. But this time, the Salt and Iron Bureau’s seizure of the Nie family’s goods is suspicious in every way… In my opinion, there must be something shady hidden in those spice boxes. Lin Wanshan’s seizure of the goods is probably because he is greedy for the benefits inside and wants to control the Nie family, forcing Prefect Lu to make concessions.”
Things that cannot be exposed to the light...
Shen Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately asked Chen Zhikuan, "What do you think it is?"
Chen Zhikuan hesitated again, lowering his voice even further: "I believe that thing is very likely... smuggled salt."
"Smuggled salt?"
Shen Zheng thought for only a moment before immediately shaking her head in denial.
It's not smuggled salt.
If it were truly smuggled salt, that young man surnamed Lu next door would never have so openly asked Lin Wanshan when the goods would be released. Even Prefect Lu himself would have had to secretly plead with Lin Wanshan not to report it to the authorities.
In the short time that Shen Zheng was talking with Chen Zhikuan, the price of the Red Thorn Grass Liquid had already reached 23,000 taels.
On stage, Yunniang seemed to be asking if there were any other important people who wanted to raise the price, but in reality, she dragged out the rule that "three breaths should not be a fixed price" for a long time.
"Twenty-three thousand one hundred taels!" Just as Young Master Lu next door added one hundred taels, there was another knock on the door next door.
As usual, Hua Duo pricked up his ears and repeated:
"Young master, my master would like to invite Lord Lu to Changyi Tower for a chat tomorrow at 5 PM."
--"OK."
Young Master Lu knew when to stop.
Before long, a laugh came from the next private room, followed by Young Master Lu "voluntarily" conceding: "If we keep going, my purse will be empty, so I won't keep you company any longer. Enjoy yourselves, everyone!"
Those in the hall sighed upon hearing this.
This person clearly had no interest in the Red Thorn Grass Liquid; his frequent price increases were obviously a deliberate attempt to provoke the other bidders.
Just when everyone thought the ownership of the Crimson Thorn Grass Elixir was settled, a shout came from the third floor again: "Twenty-five thousand taels!"
They added 1,900 taels at once!
The hall fell silent instantly, with only the sound of string and wind instruments remaining.
"Crack—" The sound of a broken cup came from Lin Wanshan's private room.
The people in the hall were shocked: "The Fifth Chamber of Commerce has really offended someone! What's wrong with Manager Chen? Why did he have to get involved in this mess? Does he not want to stay in Yuanzhou anymore?"
"I told you the rumor from Liuyang Prefecture was true! In my opinion, that Crimson Thorn Grass Elixir really was what that person from Liuyang Prefecture wanted!"
"Even the strongest dragon can't suppress a local snake! No matter how powerful that person is, they can't extend their influence into Yuanzhou, right? In any case, the Fifth Chamber of Commerce has to live under the thumb of the Yuanzhou government..."
Even Yunniang's smile froze for a moment. "Twenty-five thousand taels! The esteemed guest on the third floor has bid twenty-five thousand taels. Are there any other esteemed guests who would like to raise the price?"
"Knock knock knock—" There was a knock on the door of Shen Zheng's private room.
Hua Duo immediately said to Shen Zheng, "Master, it's the person who just went into the next room."
Shen Zheng understood.
Lin Wanshan is trying to use the same old trick again.
"Twenty-five thousand one hundred taels!" As Lin Wanshan raised the price, Hua Duo opened the door to the private room at Shen Zheng's signal.
Lin Wanshan's attendant lowered his eyes and did not look into the private room. Instead, he directly conveyed the message: "Greetings, esteemed guest. My master said that the efficacy of this item is uncertain. I fear that you have wasted your money. I hope you will reconsider and not raise the price any further."
What was clearly a threat was somehow managed to convey as if he were saying, "My parents are doing this for your own good."
Hua Duo blocked the doorway, gave a cold laugh, and subtly revealed Shen Zheng's identity: "Thank you for your trouble, my master has never lacked such material things. Even if that's just a bottle of sugar water on the table, my master would be willing to pay for it. Please leave."